Page 35 of Stolen Salvation

“Thank you.”

His hand swept down her shoulder and arm before he tangled his fingers with hers. Looking at the floor, she knew what she’d see if she looked at him and it frightened her how much she wanted him. They still had so much emotional baggage to unpack and if she allowed hope in, she’d be crushed if he decided he didn’t want her anymore.

“You know, I’m going to have to murder every man that looks at you tonight.”

Her head flew up to meet his eyes and she felt intoxicated by what she saw there. Naked hunger, desire, ownership, and love all mingled into one molten expression. “Why?”

His finger traced the exposed skin of her thigh in the short dress, and she inhaled sharply, her breath sticking in her throat.

“Because every man in there will be picturing this dress on his floor and nobody gets to see that except me.”

“We aren’t married anymore, Noah. I don’t belong to you.”

The words sounded confident but the breathy way they escaped her mouth lacked the conviction she was going for.

Bending his head, he brushed his lips against her jaw in a butterfly kiss and the electricity between them almost knocked her off her feet. One simple, almost innocent kiss from this man was everything.

“You’ll always belong to me, Charlie. My heart knows it and so does yours. You’re mine.”

With that, he stepped back and she swayed forward, locked in an exquisite dream before he steadied her. His eyes swept over her again making her breasts feel heavy and her body ache for him.

Turning, he strode to the door, his ass tight and sexy as hell in dark denim. “I’m fucking getting arrested.”

Charlie smirked as he jogged down the stairs.

“Ten minutes, Charlie.”

“Be down in five.”

It was a pattern they’d gotten into when they went anywhere. He’d remind her of the time and she’d rush to beat it.

Stepping back, she surveyed the short navy dress which clung to her body, the neckline was modest with an asymmetric one-shoulder design. The silver sandals were high but heels had never been a problem for her. She could run in them so that was fine. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her shoulders and her make-up was smoky with nude lips. Had she known the effect this outfit would have on Noah? Not consciously but she also knew him better than anyone and he was a leg man.

Grabbing the clutch from the dresser of the two-bedroom safe house they were using in the centre of Leeds, she headed down the stairs with six minutes to spare.

Noah was waiting at the bottom with her coat, shaking his head and muttering to himself as he helped her into it.

“You know talking to yourself is the first sign of madness.”

“The only thing driving me crazy is you, Charlotte Anne Bishop.”

Charlie rolled her lips as they got into the car being driven by Titan. “Oooh, you full named me.”

Noah rolled his eyes. “Give me strength.”

The twitch of his lips gave him away though, and she winked at Titan in the rear-view mirror as he smirked.

This was them; banter and sarcasm were a big part of the fire they’d had, and it felt comfortable and new at the same time. The flutters in her tummy that always happened around her ex-husband had never subsided. She’d just shut them out with all the other joy when her son died and she forgot how to live.

The club was packed as she got out of the car and Noah took her hand firmly in his. The Venue was the go-to place on a Saturday night and the queue stretched down the street and around the corner.

They walked up to the bouncer, flashed him the passes they had arranged earlier and the barrier was opened. They headed straight in as the bouncer winked at her and Noah growled.

“Cool it, tiger.”

“Why do people keep saying that to me?”

“Maybe it’s the steam coming from your ears.”